Text to Dust
Background
This is a tutorial to show how to use particle playground to make text look like swept away dust. I tried the one on Creative Cow but didn't really like it. This tutorial is based on what I found out from that tutorial, but I used different aspects of After Effects to get an effect that renders quicker and looks more like I wanted. Download the Dust Quicktime movie.
Notes: Throughout the tutorial, I have links for screenshots of what everything looks like at a certain point. You can click on the inline images to see a larger version. There are also reminders for you to constantly save your file. :)
PART 1: Playground Setup
The Playground layer will be the main layer where our text and effects will take place. Follow the directions below to get it set up correctly.
1. Open AE 6.5 and create a new composition, 320 X 240, 5 seconds. Name it "Blown Away."
2. Create a new solid and name it "Playground."
3. Apply Effect>Simulation>Particle Playground to the Playground solid layer.
4. In the Effects Controls for Playground, make sure the Cannon>Particles per Second is set to 0.
Save your file. :)
Go to Options to Edit Grid Text. Type in "and to dust you shall return" (or whatever you want that only takes up one line) and set the Alignment to Center. Click ok to apply.
5. In order to set the text up correctly, do the following in the Grid:
- Change the Font Size to 20.00, then set the keyframe.
- Change the Color from red to dust (#ECEFC3).
6. Go down to the timeline and click on the Font Size keyframe you just created. If you cannot see the keyframe, click on the Playground layer and hit the U key to make the properties visible. Right-click or control-click on the keyframe and select Toggle Hold Keyframe.
Now hit the Page Down key and set the Font Size to 0. This will keep the text from looking like sludge when the effect plays.
See screenshots of Part 1.
PART 2: Wind Setup
The Wind layer is where we will set up a Ramp and a Mask that will move across the screen to reveal the effect on the text from the Playground layer. Make sure the time indicator is at 0:00:00:00 on the timeline.
7. Create a new solid and name it "Wind."
8. Apply Effects>Render>Ramp to the Wind solid layer.
9. Now you need to precompose the Wind layer by going to Layer>Precompose (Apple+Shift+C).
Name it "Wind Comp." Select "Move all attributes into new composition" and make sure the "Open new composition" is checked. Click ok to apply.
Save your file. :)
See screenshots of Part 2.
PART 3: Wind Keyframes
The keyframes for Wind are used to control the Ramp in order to allow a reveal of the effect on the text on the Playground layer.
10. In the Effects Controls for Wind, make the following changes first:
- Change the Start Color from black to white (#FFFFFF).
- Change the End Color from white to black (#000000).
- Change the Ramp Shape from Linear Ramp to Radial Ramp.
Then set the first keyframes for Wind with the following settings:
- Change the Start of Ramp coordinates to 33.0, 124.0.
- Change the End of Ramp coordinates to 55.0, 124.0.
Make sure you turn on the stopwatch in order to set the keyframes.
Still on the Wind layer of Wind Comp, move the time indicator to somewhere around 1.5 (0:00:01:15) seconds on the timeline. Now set the second keyframes with the following settings:
- Change the Start of Ramp coordinates to 298.0, 133.0.
- Change the End of Ramp coordinates to 704.0, 124.0.
See screenshots of Part 3.
In order to make the Ramp perform a bit more naturally, we are going to add a mask to the Wind layer. Instead of simply adding a new mask to the layer, we are going to hand draw the shape with the Pen tool. Make sure the time indicator is at 0:00:00:00 on the timeline.
Save your file. :)
11. Select the Pen tool (G) from the tool palette. Create a mask on the Wind layer that looks like the image below.
Now, click on the Mask Shape on the Mask 1 on the timeline and set the first keyframe. Hit the K key to jump ahead to the next keyframe, which should be at 0:00:01:15. All of the points of the bezier should be solid like in the image below. Click and drag the mask until it is about half through the movie frame as shown below.
12. Now, select the Mask on the Wind layer down in the timeline and open up the properties by clicking on the arrows until you are on Mask 1. Change the Mask Feather to 50.0, 50.0 pixels.
For now, you are done with the Wind layer. Go back to the Blown Away Comp and hide the Wind layer by clicking on the eye beside it in the timeline.
Save your file. :)
See screenshots of Part 4.
PART 5: Playground Mask
Now, to make the wind look like it is swirling the dust away instead of just blowing it, we are going to make a mask on the Playground layer. Make it like you did with the Wind Mask, but create it with the Pen tool as shown below. Make sure the time indicator is at 0:00:00:00 on the timeline.
13. Select the Pen tool (G) from the tool palette. Create a mask on the Playground layer that looks like the image below.
Now we are ready to change the properties on the Particle Playground.
Save your file. :)
See screenshots of Part 5.
PART 6: Particle Playground
This part will show you the settings in the Effects Controls for the Playground layer that will make the effects come to life. Make sure the time indicator is at 0:00:00:00 on the timeline.
14. The Grid should already be set up and look like this. Here are the settings for the Particle Exploder:
- Change the Radius of New Particles to 0.25.
- Change the Velocity Dispersion to 40.00.
- Change the Affects>Selection Map to Wind Comp
If you preview your movie at this point, the text should turn into dust from left to right and fall downward.
15. The settings for the Gravity:
- Change the Force to 126.92.
- Change the Direction to 0 x +110.0°.
- Change the Affects>Selection Map to Wind Comp.
- Change the Affects>Age Feather to 5.00.
If you preview your movie at this point, the text should turn into dust from left to right and fall toward the lower right side.
16. The settings for the Repel:
- Change the Force Radius to 0.00.
17. The settings for the Wall:
- Change the Boundary to Mask 1 (this should be the Playground Mask).
- Change the Affects>Older/Younger than to -3.00.
If you preview your movie at this point, the text should turn into dust from left to right and fall toward the right side in a swirling current of wind.
Save your file. :)
See screenshots of Part 6.
PART 7: Experimentation
Now with everything set up, go in and try some different things with the settings in Particle Playground and with the shapes of the masks. Have fun!